DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS, DISPUTES AND APPEALS
It shall be a breach of the Rules for any Club or member of any Club to:
1. violate the laws of the Game
2. bet in any betting activity or accept any bets in any way related to any match
3. accept or offer or attempt to offer, either directly or indirectly, any inducement with a view to influencing the result of a match
4. do anything which is likely to bring the game or the League into disrepute
5. fail to conduct themselves in an orderly fashion or fail to refrain from violence. For the purposes of this sub-section "any Club" shall include not only members and players but also spectators and supporters.
1. The Executive Committee shall receive and discuss any referee's report at its next meeting. In the case of matches played during the week of a meeting, the report will be received and discussed at the next meeting. Written notice of the decision of the Executive Committee shall be given to the Club or member in accordance with sub-clause 6 below. (Form 1)
2. The Club or member may respond but, in the absence of any response, shall be deemed to accept the decision of the Executive Committee. If the Club or member denies the allegation or wishes to make representations as to the decision, they will be entitled to attend the next Executive Committee meeting in order to do so.
3. Not more than two representatives of the Club or the member (accompanied by one representative) may attend the meeting of the Executive Committee at which the matter is to be discussed and may make representations and call evidence.
4. The procedure for the hearing before the Executive Committee shall be at the discretion of the Chairman of the meeting who will ensure that the matter is dealt with fairly and expeditiously.
5. The meeting may, at the discretion of the Chairman, be adjourned.
6. The decision of the Executive Committee shall be notified to the Club or member within 7 days of the meeting. Notification will be deemed to have taken place on the Monday following the meeting
Any or all of the following penalties may be imposed, if deemed appropriate:
1. A fine
2. A censure
3. Suspension either for a Club or a player, permanently or for a specific or stated period.
4. The imposition of penalty points in accordance with the Appendix hereto.
5. Other penalty or sanction as the Executive Committee shall deem reasonably fitting, including, without limitation, a written undertaking from the Club or member as to their future conduct.
The membership of the Appeals Panel shall comprise the two permanent members elected at the League's Annual General Meeting and one person nominated by each of the Clubs in the League at the Annual General Meeting.
Any appeal from a disciplinary decision of the Executive Committee shall be heard by an Appeals Panel of three persons namely:
* One of the two permanent members and two other members chosen by lot.
* (if both permanent members are unavailable or unwilling to attend) three other members chosen by lot.
No member of the Appeals Panel shall sit on an Appeal which involves the Club by which he was nominated. Any Club or member may appeal against a disciplinary decision of the Executive Committee or against a sending off. There shall be no appeal against a booking by a referee nor a suspension where the player has accumulated the requisite number of disciplinary points. In the event of an appeal, any punishment imposed to prompt the appeal will be suspended, pending the outcome of the appeal.
The Appeals procedure shall be as follows:
1. The Club or member making the appeal ("the Appellant") shall complete the Appeals form (Form 2) and deliver it to the General Secretary within 7 days of notification of the decision of the Executive Committee or the sending off (as the case may be).
2. The Appeals form will be accompanied by a payment of £30.00, without which the Appeal will be deemed to be invalid. If the appeal is upheld this fee will be refunded.
3. The Appeals form shall include a signed agreement on behalf of the Club or by the member confirming that it/he will abide by the decision of the Appeals Panel
4. The General Secretary (acting as the clerk to the Appeals panel and not as General Secretary of the Executive Committee) will notify the Appellant of the date, time and place of the Appeal hearing and of his right to be represented by a friend and to call evidence. The Executive Committee will also be entitled to be represented at and call evidence at the Appeal hearing. The Appeals panel may re-hear evidence or arguments put before the Executive Committee.
5. No document shall be admissible as evidence at an Appeal hearing unless four copies have been delivered to the General Secretary (acting as clerk as above) at least 7 days before the Appeal hearing.
6. Procedure at the Appeal hearing shall be at the discretion of the Chairman of the Appeals panel.
7. The parties shall be notified of the decision of the Appeals Panel as soon as practicably possible. Subject to the availability of the nominated members, the Appeal hearing shall take place within 21 days of the notification of the decision which is the subject of the appeal.